life; he therefore sent them their valets, cooks, hair-dressers,
actresses, priests, etc. The perfumes and hair-oils he gave to his own
soldiers."

"I trust you have finished," said the queen, playing listlessly with her
fan.

"Ah, your majesty has then honored me by listening?" said General Fink,
smiling.

The queen preserved a dignified silence.

The general continued reading: "After long deliberation, Prince Soubise
concluded he had carried his politeness too far in vacating the ducal
palace to the Prussians; he determined, therefore, to go after his
perfumes, hair-oils, dressing-gowns, wigs, etc., etc., and drive the
Prussians from Gotha. Prince von Hildburghausen joined him with his
troops. Thus the French advanced to Gotha, secure and confident of
success. But to their terror they found before the city not two Prussian
regiments, as they had expected, but what seemed to them the entire
Prussian army arranged in line of battle, and in such large numbers
that for miles around the bills were covered, with them. This was so
unexpected to the French generals that they determined to retreat for
a while, until they had recovered from their surprise. They withdrew,
leaving the field to the Prussians. Had they not withdrawn so hastily,
they would soon have seen that the Prussian army consisted only of
fifteen hundred, which, thanks to General Seidlitz's strategy, presented
a very imposing view. Thus Seidlitz gained the day without firing a
shot--not by the troops who were present, but by those who were supposed
to be present."

"I have had enough of this," said the queen, rising. "I am weary of
listening to your witty stories. The King of Prussia may triumph for a
while--he may jest over his lost battles--but the hour of his misfortune
is at hand. God, who is just--who thrusts the arrogant and haughty to
the ground--will also punish him, and give victory to the just cause.
The battle of Collin was for Frederick the Second the first proof of
God's anger, and now with increasing strength His mighty arm will be
raised against him."

"I am aware that these are your majesty's sentiments," said the general,
smiling; "and my master is as well informed. I think they were stated
in almost the same words in letters which your majesty wrote to the
Austrian general, Nadasky."

The queen fell back upon her seat trembling, and a deep red suffused her
countenance. Even Father Guarini showed by the quivering of his lip and
his s